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On a sultry July weekend, gourmands in Ubud were once again pampered at CasCades. Over the years, the restaurant has been showcasing special dining events and hosting guest chefs and is developing into a notable destination for leading and Michelin-starred chefs. On this occasion, Chef Michaël Vrijmoed returned to join Executive Chef Nic Vanderbeeken for a two-night, four-hands extravaganza. Chef Michaël first collaborated with CasCades back in 2013 and can usually be found running his own Michelin-starred restaurant, Vrijmoed, in Belgium. On 15th July, CasCades, renowned for presenting only the best fine dining crafted with the freshest, highest quality produce, presented an extraordinary six-course vegetarian banquet, while the following night featured a meat and fish feast alongside a veritable abundance of fine wines, including Pinot Grigio, Tenuta Sant’ Helena 2013 – paired perfectly with cod, coconut, pickle and green radish – and a Merlot Ronan by 3rd Label Chateau Clinet 2012.
Chef Michaël and Chef Nic, previously classmates, clearly revelled in the collaboration and together brought their skills into harmony to create some outstanding dishes using European techniques and primarily local produce. The Western ingredients were infused with occasional touches of Japan, such as the matcha bouillon that served as a base for the spinach and tofu ravioli. This light, tasty dish was a lush deep jewel green, decorated with delicate deep red flowers and presented in a lightly ribbed white porcelain bowl making for a strikingly attractive look. The Canadian lobster with green asparagus in a lightly buttery sauce, was without doubt, the dish of the night, while the Chardonnay, Georges Duboef Chablis 2013 was the stand-out wine. Under Vanderbeeken’s leadership, CasCades is deservedly one of the island’s most distinguished restaurants for sophisticated fine dining.
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